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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Catfish John Chords

ChordsG, D, A
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

GDGDGDAD
DMamasaiddon’tgoGnearthatriver
DDon’tbehangin’aroundoldcatfishAJohn
DButcomethemorningI’dGalwaysbethere
DWalkinginhisfootstepsintheAsweetdeltaDdawn.
BornaGslaveinthetownofDVicksburg
TradedGforachestnutDmare
HeGneverspokeawordinDanger
ThoughhisloadwasAhardtoDbear.
DMamasaiddon’tgoGnearthatriver
DDon’tbehangin’aroundoldcatfishAJohn
DButcomethemorningI’dGalwaysbethere
DWalkinginhisfootstepsintheAsweetdeltaDdawn.
GDGDGDAD
DCatfishGJohnwasariverDhobo
HelivedandGdiedontheriverDbend
Lookin’GbackIstill Dremember
IwasproudtoAbehisDfriend.
DMamasaiddon’tgoGnearthatriver
DDon’tbehangin’aroundoldcatfishAJohn
DButcomethemorningI’dGalwaysbethere
DWalkinginhisfootstepsintheAsweetdeltaDdawn.
GDGDGDAD
DLetmeGdreamofanotherDmorning
AndaGtimesolongDago
WhentheGsweetmagnoliasDblossomed
AndthecottonfieldswereAwhiteasDsnow.
DMamasaiddon’tgoGnearthatriver
DDon’tbehangin’aroundoldcatfishAJohn
DButcomethemorningI’dGalwaysbethere
DWalkinginhisfootstepsintheAsweetdeltaDdawn.
DComethemorningI’dGalwaysbethere
DWalkinginhisfootstepsintheAsweetdeltaDdawn.
AlbumWill the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III
Year2002
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play Catfish John on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Catfish John on guitar requires 3 chords and 2 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Catfish John uses these transitions most often: G → D (27), D → G (26), and A → D (15). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with G - D chord transition.

1. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 27 times.

G to D

2. D → A chord transition

To move from D to A:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 3 to fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 15 times.

D to A

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Catfish John.

  • Catfish John includes 83 chord transitions, 2 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Catfish John contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Catfish John connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → G: 29%
    • D → A: 17%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → D: 24%